Contributions
1,402 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentI have already mentioned the measures that we brought forward at the last Budget, including universal support and WorkWell. The Government are of course constantly looking at how…04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentThe hon. Gentleman raises the issue of support during the cost of living squeeze that we are experiencing. My Department has been responsible for distributing millions of payments…04 Sept 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe of course look at particularly targeting harder-hit pensioners through pension credit, and the Pensions Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Laura Trott), has…04 Sept 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsTo the extent that the hon. Lady was suggesting that economic inactivity was worse in our country than in all other economies, or all similar economies—I think that is what she…04 Sept 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere is a proper plan in place. I invite the hon. Lady to spend some time looking more closely at the announcements that have been made, particularly at the time of the last…04 Sept 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for his question. I very much welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision in July, meaning that the national disability strategy is lawful. The Government are…04 Sept 2023HANSARDBenefit FraudThere is help within jobcentres. There is also Citizens Advice, and a help to claim process available there. When people make genuine errors and when they have been overpaid for…04 Sept 2023HANSARDLabour Market InactivityI would be very happy for either myself or the relevant Minister to meet my hon. Friend or my right hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel).04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentIt is good to be back, Mr Speaker. I trust that you had at least some rest during the recess. Let me also extend my welcome to the new Members who have just taken their seats. The…04 Sept 2023HANSARDLabour Market InactivityI think it is very unfortunate when any Member of this House looks down on a certain category of job that is employing hundreds of thousands of people perfectly satisfactorily. In…04 Sept 2023HANSARDLabour Market InactivityWe are doing a great deal to bear down on economic inactivity. As of August this year, the figures show that over half the increase in economic activity that occurred during the…04 Sept 2023HANSARDBenefit FraudWe continue to bear down on fraud and error. It decreased by 10% in 2022-23. There is of course still more to be done, which is why we are investing £900 million to reduce that…04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentMy hon. Friend will be pleased to know that since 2010, youth unemployment has fallen by over 40%, which is the mirror image of what happened under the last Labour Government when…04 Sept 2023HANSARDBenefit FraudA huge amount, including the targeted case review, which over the next five years will review hundreds of thousands of universal credit claims to look for fraud and error. Of…04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentI have no problem at all with defending the Government’s record on employment. There are now nearly 4 million more people in employment than there were in 2010, including about 2…04 Sept 2023HANSARDPublic Consultation on Occupational HealthTogether with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, later today, I will publish a Command Paper launching the public consultation entitled…20 Jul 2023HANSARDBenefits System: Work IncentivesThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point. There is no doubt that mental health and musculoskeletal issues in particular underpin part of the recent growth in economic…19 Jun 2023HANSARDBenefit FraudThe hon. Lady raises an important point. The Government’s record under my stewardship at the DWP is a good one. In fact, since the fraud plan was published last May, fraud across…19 Jun 2023HANSARDIn-work PovertyIn-work progression is the best way of improving the earnings potential of those who are in work, which is why we are bringing hundreds of thousands more people into the kind of…19 Jun 2023HANSARDBenefits System: Work IncentivesI agree entirely with my right hon. Friend. Some of the most significant measures in the Budget, particularly on helping people get into work, were the childcare measures that the…19 Jun 2023